Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale commends AP Government for renaming Konaseema district as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district
People should make use of welfare schemes being implemented by the Centre: Ramdas Athawale
The Center is working for the overall social development of people: Union Minister
Vijayawada, 19 July, 2022
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ram Das Athawale commended the Andhra Pradesh government for renaming Konaseema District as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
Addressing the media in Vijayawada on, today, Shri Athawale said, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who framed the Constitution of India, served the country immensely a lawyer, economist, political leader and social reformer.
He said, encouraging inter-caste marriages eradicates caste divisions leading to development of the society as a whole. In Andhra Pradesh, he said, 2494 inter-caste marriages took place in 2019-20; 1898 in 2020-21; and 1762 in 2021-22, which is an indication that the people of Andhra Pradesh are participating in the process of eradication of the caste system.
So far 3,35,358 post-matric and 2,13,694 pre-matric scholarships have been granted in Andhra Pradesh. The minister said that the government has provided Rs 81.84 crore to 83,085 beneficiaries under the ADIP scheme. In Andhra Pradesh, according to the Minister, nearly one lakh students are studying in 191 Gurukul schools, with a budget of Rs 900 crore.
The Minister further said that the Central government is working tirelessly for the improvement of social condition of the people and urged the people to make use of various Centrally-sponsored schemes being implemented in the State. During the last 8 years, about 45 crore 90 lakh accounts have been opened across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Janadhan Yojana  scheme, out of which 18 crore accounts have been opened from Andhra Pradesh alone, he added. An amount of Rs 16,9,879.24 crore has been paid to the beneficiaries through these accounts.
From the year 2015 till now, Rs 19,02,038 crore have been provided to 62 lakh 38 thousand beneficiaries across the country under the Prime Minister's Mudra Yojana scheme, out of which Rs 67,517.82 crore have been provided as loans to the beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh.
From the year 2016 till now, under the Prime Minister's Ujwala Yojana scheme, around 09 crore 34 lakh gas connections have been provided to the beneficiaries, out of which 04 lakh 88 thousand gas connections have been allocated to Andhra Pradesh.
From the year 2015 till now, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana  around 61,03,000 houses were built across the country providing Rs 1,20,130 crore to the beneficiaries, out of which Rs. 14,223.58 crore have been invested for construction of 05 lakh 62 thousand houses to beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh.
From 2015 till now, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana  scheme about 02 crore 25 lakh houses were constructed and provided to the beneficiaries across the country with an investment of Rs. 1,67,30,473.0561 crore, out of which Rs. 75,511.1 crore have benn spent for constructing 76,800 houses for the beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh.
Beginning from 2018 to till now, under the Prime Minister's Jan Arogya Yojana , the Minister said, Rs. 38,337 crore have been spent benefiting about 03 crore 35 lakh beneficiaries across the country, out of which Rs. 6,980.15 crore have been spent on 25,75,000 beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh alone.
From the year 2015 till now under the Pradhan Mantri Ujala Yojana, around 39.79 crore LED bulbs have been provided to the beneficiaries across the country, earmarking Rs. 2,500 crore. Around 31.71 lakh LED bulbs have been provided to the beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh, spending Rs. 22.20 crore.
From 2019 to May 2022, the Minister informed that an amount Rs. 345.35 crore have been allocated for setting up 1,720 de-addiction centers across the country, of which Rs. 43 crore have been provided to Andhra Pradesh for establishing 106 de-addiction centres.
Central and state government officials and media members participated in the press conference.